5 Best Pet Insurance Companies for Emergencies (2024)
Many pets experience health emergencies at some point in their lifetime. You shouldn’t have to choose between your budget and getting your pet proper emergency care during these moments. Some pet owners opt for pet insurance policies to cover emergencies and other veterinary expenses, such wellness visits and vaccines.
We reviewed more than 20 of the best pet insurance companies to find which offer quality emergency coverage. Keep reading to review our pet insurance comparison and learn which emergency pet insurance providers we recommend.
Top 5 Pet Insurance Companies for Emergencies
We analyzed each pet insurance company we looked at based on price, plan options, coverage, customer reviews, service, waiting periods, and more to determine our top five choices for the best emergency pet insurance providers.
Compare Pet Insurance Companies
We’ve compared plan options, cost, and waiting periods for the emergency pet insurance providers on our list. Our breakdown below covers the basics for each company and the pros and cons for their policies.
Company | Star Rating | Monthly Cost for Dogs* | Monthly Cost for Cats* | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
$33.69 | $13.32 | VISIT SITE | ||
$38.44 | $21.53 | VISIT SITE | ||
$65.15 | $53.43 | VISIT SITE | ||
$44.83 | $24.68 | VISIT SITE | ||
$44.79 | $16.36 | VISIT SITE |
Lemonade Rating
Learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Spot Rating
Learn more: Spot Pet Insurance Review
Embrace Rating
Learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
Healthy Paws Rating
Get a quote: Get a quote from Healthy Paws
Learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
Why We Chose Figo
Get a quote: Get a quote from Figo
Learn more: Figo Pet Insurance Review
How Much Does Emergency Pet Insurance Cost?
Emergency coverage is included in most providers’ standard accident-and-illness plans, which cost $25–$60 per month for the companies on this list. Pet insurance prices vary greatly among providers depending on their coverage and the annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate you choose. Your location and your pet’s breed and age also affect your monthly premium.
We went through the quote process with each provider on our list and got the following estimates:
Provider | Monthly Average for Puppies (6 weeks to 1 year)* | Monthly Average for Adult Dogs (1 year to 10 years)* | Monthly Average for Senior Dogs (10+ years)* |
---|---|---|---|
Lemonade |
$19.67 |
$23.22 |
N/A |
Spot |
$22.02 |
$24.50 |
$128.32 |
Embrace |
$36.02 |
$57.19 |
$91.85 |
Healthy Paws |
$38.22 |
$48.65 |
$232.67 |
Figo |
$29.71 |
$26.48 |
$112.73 |
*Sample quotes are for mixed-breed, male dogs in Raleigh, North Carolina, using ages 8 months, 4 years, and 12 years.
Provider | Monthly Average for Kittens (0 weeks to 1 year)* | Monthly Average for Adult Cats (1 year to 7 years)* | Monthly Average for Senior Cats (7+ years)* |
---|---|---|---|
Lemonade |
$13.17 |
$13.17 |
$31.33 |
Spot |
$17.35 |
$19.49 |
$62.28 |
Embrace |
$16.15 |
$21.60 |
$36.74 |
Healthy Paws |
$17.96 |
$23.44 |
$109.05 |
Figo |
$18.47 |
$16.44 |
$33.39 |
*Sample quotes are for mixed-breed, male cats in Raleigh, North Carolina, using ages 8 months, 4 years, and 12 years.
If you’re concerned about the cost of insuring your pet, the cheapest pet insurance providers offer pet health coverage without overextending your budget.
What Is Emergency Pet Insurance?
Emergency pet insurance is a health care policy that helps cover the cost of vet treatments when your pet has an accident or illness. Most providers’ standard accident-and-illness plans cover emergency treatments. Some examples of emergency vet treatments include:
- Diagnostic testing
- ER exams
- Hospitalization
- Stomach pumping
- Surgery
The following veterinary specialists typically accept emergency pet insurance:
- Emergency and urgent care pet hospitals
- Internal medicine experts
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Orthopedic specialists
- Radiologists
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy specialists
Learn more about how pet insurance works in our guide.
Pet Emergencies
Get your pet to the vet as quickly as possible if you think your pet is experiencing a medical emergency. If your pet’s issues don’t appear to be urgent, call your pet insurer’s 24/7 vet helpline. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number or the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline for suspected poisonings.
Factors To Consider Before Buying Pet Insurance
Consider these features—and the fine print—before deciding on a pet insurer to get the best coverage at the right price for your budget.
- Add-ons: Most providers have an accident-and-illness plan, but some also have optional add-ons, such as wellness plans for routine pet care. Look for companies that offer these plans if you’re interested in additional coverage.
- Age limits: Some providers have a minimum and maximum age limit for your pet. Check to see if your pet is considered too young or too old to enroll.
- Availability: Not all providers offer coverage nationwide. Check each provider’s site to make sure they’re available in your state.
- Cost: Get a sample quote before committing to any provider to see what your monthly premium will be. You should also look at the options for annual deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement rates to see how changing these selections impacts your premium.
- Coverage: Coverage varies between providers and between their own plans. Make sure to read the coverage details of each plan to understand exclusions.
Do You Need Emergency Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance isn’t necessary for pet owners, but it can help you save money when an unexpected accident or illness occurs. It can be especially helpful in an emergency when you must make quick decisions about your pet’s health. When your pet is facing an urgent health problem, instead of taking time to evaluate your budget or worrying if you can afford a treatment, your pet insurance will cover some or all of the cost. Having pet insurance that covers emergency treatments can give you peace of mind and help guarantee you can give your pet the quality of health care it needs.
What Is Excluded From Pet Insurance Coverage?
While pet insurance covers a wide range of health costs, there are some limitations. A few examples of the expenses a policy may not cover include:
- Behavioral issues: Training and treatments for behavioral problems, such as anxiety, are likely excluded from policies.
- Boarding fees: Training and treatments for behavioral problems, such as anxiety, are likely excluded from policies.
- Breeding costs: Insurance companies usually don’t cover breeding, whelping, or nursing.
- Grooming and cosmetic procedures: Elective procedures, such as grooming, tail docking, and nail trimming, are excluded from most plans.
- Pre-existing conditions: Your health plan won’t cover accidents or illness your pet experiences prior to enrollment.
Is Emergency Pet Insurance Worth It?
We recommend Lemonade because its emergency coverage is inexpensive, and you can quickly file a claim through the provider’s app. We suggest looking at the policy’s fine print, reading customer reviews, and getting a quote from at least three companies to compare pricing in your area before deciding on an emergency pet insurance provider.
All pet health insurance providers include some degree of emergency medical care coverage in their standard plans, but the specific treatments covered vary. Remember that pet insurance can’t help you if you wait until after an emergency occurs to get it. If you want veterinary bills covered when problems arise, you should enroll in a plan as soon as possible or you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
FAQs About Emergency Pet Insurance
What pet insurance can you use immediately?
No pet insurance provider lets you use your coverage immediately, but some providers have waiting periods that are only one or two days. Lemonade and Embrace have a two-day waiting period for accidents, and Figo’s is one day.
Can you get pet insurance and claim straight away?
No. You can’t file a pet insurance claim until the waiting period for your plan is over. This varies by provider, but it’s usually anywhere from two days to two weeks for most conditions.
Can you get pet insurance if your pet is already sick?
You can get pet insurance if your pet is sick. However, your pet’s condition will be considered preexisting, and you likely won’t receive coverage for it. You can still get coverage for future accidents and illnesses.
Does my pet insurance cover emergency visits?
Most standard pet insurance plans cover emergency visits. Review your policy contract to be sure.
How much should you save for pet emergencies?
According to Preventive Vet, an ER exam can cost $100–$200, and an emergency surgery can cost anywhere from $1,500–$5,000. We recommend having an emergency fund of at least $1,500 if you don’t have pet insurance. However, you should be covered for common pet emergency treatments if you have a pet insurance plan.
Does pet insurance cover emergencies in other countries?
Pet insurance companies vary in whether they’ll honor coverage when traveling outside the country you have your policy in. Check your policy’s fine print, or call and speak with a representative to check pet emergency protocol. Getting your pet emergency vet help should be the priority if your pet is experiencing a life-threatening issue.
Our Rating Methodology
We’re dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.